Newcastle stun Arsenal after trailing 4-0

Newcastle staged one of the greatest fightbacks in Premier League history on Saturday, dealing a blow to Arsenal's title hopes to claim a 4-4 draw on a day of record goal-scoring.

Written by Agence-France Presse

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Newcastle:

Newcastle staged one of the greatest fightbacks in Premier League history on Saturday, dealing a blow to Arsenal's title hopes to claim a 4-4 draw on a day of record goal-scoring.

The second-placed Gunners ran riot in an extraordinary opening at St James Park, sweeping into a 4-0 lead after only 26 minutes thanks to two goals from Robin Van Persie and one apiece from Theo Walcott and Johan Djourou.

But the dismissal of Abou Diaby early in the second half gave Newcastle hope and when Joey Barton scored from the penalty spot the fightback was on.

A further goal from Leon Best made it 4-2 before Barton's second penalty cut Arsenal's lead to a single goal. With time running out Cheik Tiote lashed in a 20-yard volley on 87 minutes to complete an extraordinary comeback.

Disappointed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Barton should have been sent off for the challenge that led to Diaby's dismissal as he reflected on two lost points.

"The sending off was detrimental to us and some of the decisions went against us today," Wenger said.

"At 4-1 we panicked a bit. I didn't see the sending off very well. But Barton should have been sent off too."

A total of 39 goals were scored across Saturday's seven games, shattering the previous record of 36 scored in a single day of the Premier League.

Third-placed Manchester City swept to a comfortable win over West Bromwich Albion at Eastlands, birthday boy Carlos Tevez netting a first-half hat-trick in a 3-0 victory.

Tevez's treble included two from the penalty spot as the Argentinian took his goals tally for the season to 18.

In a dramatic match at White Hart Lane, Niko Kranjcar struck a 90th-minute winner for Tottenham in a 2-1 victory over Bolton.

Rafael Van der Vaart put Spurs ahead from the penalty spot on six minutes, and looked to have doubled his tally moments later when he buried a second spot-kick only for the kick to be retaken for encroachment. Van der Vaart shot the same way but this time his effort went wide.

Bolton looked to have done enough to earn a share of the points courtesy of a Daniel Sturridge equaliser but Kranjcar's strike settled it for Spurs.

Elsewhere, Fulham twice came from behind to grab a share of the points in a 2-2 draw away to Aston Villa.

An own-goal from John Pantsil gave Villa the lead on 13 minutes before Fulham hit back through Andrew Johnson on 52 minutes.